Difference between revisions of "Natural selection"
(Deleting one sentence which makes it seem as if natural selection is directed by a Designer) |
(I have disconnected "selection" from "evolution" - they are distinct, even if related) |
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These organisms have to be able to survive long enough to reproduce, and produce viable offspring capable of the same, in order to ensure the continuing survival of their genetic traits. They do not have to be perfectly adapted to their environment; they only have to be able to survive in it. | These organisms have to be able to survive long enough to reproduce, and produce viable offspring capable of the same, in order to ensure the continuing survival of their genetic traits. They do not have to be perfectly adapted to their environment; they only have to be able to survive in it. | ||
| − | Furthermore, an organism may be well adapted to one environment but not be able to survive in another | + | Furthermore, an organism may be well adapted to one environment but not be able to survive in another. |
| − | Natural selection is not mutation. It does not make anything new, alter anything, etc | + | Natural selection is not [[mutation]]. It does not make anything new, alter anything, etc. Natural selection can cause extinction based on survival of the fittest, but the processes of creation and mutation lie outside the scope of natural selection. |
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| + | ==See also== | ||
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| + | * [[Theory of evolution through natural selection]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 11:52, June 2, 2007
Its role in Evolution is expressed vaguely. How does natural selection "help" bring a new species into existence? Merely by weeding out the "mistakes"?. (Discuss)
Natural selection is a principle that was proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, who noted that organisms which were better adapted to their environment tended to survive longer and reproduce more than less well-adapted organisms.
These organisms have to be able to survive long enough to reproduce, and produce viable offspring capable of the same, in order to ensure the continuing survival of their genetic traits. They do not have to be perfectly adapted to their environment; they only have to be able to survive in it.
Furthermore, an organism may be well adapted to one environment but not be able to survive in another.
Natural selection is not mutation. It does not make anything new, alter anything, etc. Natural selection can cause extinction based on survival of the fittest, but the processes of creation and mutation lie outside the scope of natural selection.